Standards for artists' skills

YOGYAKARTA: The Ministry of Education and Culture is to introduce a standardization of skills of musical and performance artists in order to make it easier for both domestic and foreign organizers to hire them for performances.

Director of Arts and Culture W.J. Pranoto said such a standardization was particularly important for artists performing overseas.

"We must not allow our artists to be rejected by the market or be neglected when they are abroad," Pranoto said here Monday.

The standardization will also be prepared for other art forms, he said.

"We will also establish a special body to provide the standardization and accreditation so our artists' products can become marketable commodities," he said, citing handicrafts as an example. (44)